Jim has a depth of experience in aviation technology, particularly in unmanned aircraft systems, which he has been involved with since 2005. Jim holds a Bachelor of Engineering, (with honours) in Electronics and Communications from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia and a Master of Science in Aerosystems Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology, UK. Jim spent 21 years with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, firstly as a senior airworthiness engineer and later as the manager of future technologies.Jim is the former Chair of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Group, having taken up that position in February 2010.